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NASA Posts Fair-Use Deep Space Recordings

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NASA LaunchTax season can be a bummer. But now you can get every cent of your tax dollars by listening to NASA's new library of deep space recordings that you can use and/or remix however you like. You can listen to a lightening storm on Jupiter. A LIGHTNING STORM ON JUPITER! 

Many of these fair-use recordings had previously been available to download at SoundCloud, and just a few months ago NASA posted a bunch more. 

There are your standard seminal soundbites such as, "The Eagle has landed," "Houston we've had a problem," and "One giant leap for mankind," in addition to recordings from the inner workings of NASA ground control and JFK's public speeches about the space program. 

You can hear recordings of rocket and shuttle liftoffs and catalogues of our satellites and equipment in space (including the original recording of Sputnik) and non-human, deep space sounds like interstellar plasma and radio emissions. And just one more time, you can listen to a lightening storm on Jupiter.

The sounds require a NASA source citation to use them, but other than that you can repurpose them however you'd like in your next mixtape or art project. Or if you just want to sit back and experience the benefits of how far humanity's ingenuity has brought us in the past century. Rock on.

 


How to: Make Your Own DIY Twig Pencils

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created at: 04/09/2015

This simple twig pencil project is a great way to add a little rustic, outdoor charm to your office or workspace. Or, it could make a great spring project to do with kids, and a smart way to reuse all the fallen branches and tree limbs that come along with these April showers. 

And they're a cinch to make: grab some sticks, a drill and some 2mm pencil graphite, and put them together by the bunches. Check out the process in the video below:

Read more at Makezine: Twig Pencils

A Brief History of Gin

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created at: 04/09/2015

Whether you like yours mixed with a splash of tonic, some soda and lemon, or stirred with vermouth and a twist, we can all agree: gin is indeed the spirit of spring. And throughout its history, its been proposed to cure everything from the black plague to malaria. Supposedly, today is international Gin & Tonic day, but that's not a real thing, is it? Regardless, here are some fun facts and ten ought-to-try bottles from the team at MentalFloss.com: A Brief History of Gin—and 12 Kinds You Should Try

How To: Make the Perfect Homemade Salsa

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Though it's the way most of us consume them, salsas are not just for chips. That limitation is a shame, because these Mexican table sauces can be so much more than watery blend of canned tomatoes and vinegar intended for scoping. I was born in Mexico, so fresh, bright and bold salsas are close to my heart. 

created at: 04/24/2013

So, join me on a virtual south-of-the-border trip, and learn the basic techniques of making the perfect homemade salsa.

The term salsa - which basically means "sauce" in Spanish - is usually used to describe a tangy mix of tomatoes, onions, and peppers, but its origins and varieties go way beyond that. Salsas have been around for a really long time - think Spaniards wearing conquistador clothes and Aztecs grinding fresh ingredients in a Molcajete. They have been a staple in Latin cuisine for generations, so you can only imagine how many recipes have been created!

The concept is simple - use the right ingredients that complement each other well, and don't over complicate things. Here's the process, broken down into a few, basic steps. Take note!

STEP 1: Choose the ingredients. Chiles (fresh or dried), a base, and seasonings. That's it. As long as you have a base (e.g. roma tomatoes, tomatillos, pineapple) you'll only need a few complementary elements like cilantro, onion, and lime.

STEP 2: Prepare the ingredients. Roasted, smoked, raw - whatever floats your boat. Each method will dramatically change the flavor in your recipe, so feel free to experiment.

STEP 3: Finish him! The salsa, I mean. There are 2 basic methods: pureed or chunky. Think about how you're going to serve it: on top of fish, in tacos, with roasted pork, etc, and pick a texture to match.

Now, let's talk about the most common cooking and finishing techniques:

 

THE ROASTED

created at: 04/24/2013

This method adds more depth of flavour and is perfect to complement any grilled dish, and adds complexity to winter dishes cooked indoors. What you'll need:

  • Roasting pan
  • Canola oil
  • Salt and pepper

Gather your ingredients, place them in a pan, and rub them with some love and canola oil. Season with salt and pepper. Place them under your broiler or - if you have a gas stove - roast them directly on the flame. Once the skin starts to char, remove from heat and place them in a paper bag, clean cloth, or sealable container. Let them "sweat" until they cool down a little.

Once they're cool enough to handle, take them out of the bag/cloth and remove excess char. Finish according to recipe. 

Bonus tip: If you want lots of heat, roll your whole roasted chiles on a chopping board - this will release the oil in the seeds and it'll send you straight to picante town.

THE RAW

created at: 04/22/2013

This method is recommended if you want to keep the tanginess of the fresh ingredients in the salsa. It's also great for quick summer snacks and low-fat diets. I suggest you use really ripe ingredients, otherwise your salsa will lack flavor. Got an avocado that's about to go kaput? Or maybe some fresh tomatoes from the garden? Use them up and get ready to have a fiesta in your kitchen!

 

CHUNK

created at: 04/22/2013

Just like the raw method, this one is a breeze to make. Chop, chop, chop, and away you go. If your knife skills suck, don't worry! The chunkier it is, the more rustic it looks. Chunky salsas (made fresh at home) last for about 3 or 4 days in the fridge, before they start to break down. Try to prepare these at least an hour ahead so the ingredients can mingle.

PUREE

created at: 04/21/2013

Let your food processor do the magic for you. This is probably the most popular method in Mexico. It's easier to serve, and also allows you to freeze any leftovers. To make it extra smooth, strain your mix to collect any seeds or veggie skins.

Now, to put these techniques into practice, check out my recipes for five distinct and flavorful salsas. Perfect for Cinco de Mayo, or anytime!

 

 This post originally published on April 24, 2013

How to: Iron a Shirt in 90 Seconds

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The debate: is this shirt on the hanger wrinkled enough that it's worth busting out the iron, or can I get away with it and just move a lot so the creases fall out.

The answer: you can iron that shirt in, literally, a minute and a half. Less time than it would take to let the iron heat up in the first place.    

So says Jim Moore, the creative director of GQ magazine. His method assumes you're wearing a jacket, so it focuses on the front, collar, and cuffs. And most interesting? I've been ironing on the wrong end of the board for the last twenty five years. So, there's that.

Check out the video below, and learn more at GQ.com:

25 Camping Recipes to Blow Your Mind

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created at: 04/13/2015

Easy living should mean easy (and GOOD) cooking. Get ready to burn past the campfire staples of hot dogs and canned beans to some truly knockout recipes that are hearty and delicious. Seriously, I'm probably going to cook some of these at home this weekend.   

Half of these recipes are savory meals such as the zesty Campfire Burrito or the Sunrise Breakfast Bowl while rest are sweet delights like the Roasted Cinnamon Rolls or a Dutch Oven Caramel Apple Pie.  

Check out the full list of recipes here.

 

Top photo from the ManMadeDIY Instagram account. Come say hi!

 

 

How to: Give Your Photos a Vintage Tintype Effect

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DIY Tintype Photos
There's a certain cool factor that comes from a grungy, well-worn photograph. Last year, the tintype made a short resurgence when photographer, Victoria Will shot celebrities at the Sundance Film Festival with an antique tintype camera. I have always wanted to have a tintype photo of my wife and I, but unfortunately, I don't own such a contraption. So we're going to have to make do with technology that costs ten times more than the tintype camera ever did. Oh the irony!

We'll be using Adobe Photoshop Elements 13 to rock out this project. In this tutorial you'll learn techniques such as photo coloring, layer masks and blur filters. After making your own tintype you'll be equipped to apply tons of cool vintage effects to your photos!

This is the second in our 2015 partnership with Adobe Photoshop Elements. The first post, on making a DIY block-printed poster, is here.

Ready to get started? Here we go!

Step 1- Get a great photo of your subject

I asked my friend George to help me out since a selfie felt too weird! These kinds of photos look best with blank backgrounds and natural light. I shot this with my Fuji XE100 55mm (RAW - f/4 - 1/90s - ISO 1600) I set George up next to a window and snapped various poses to give myself several options to pick from. Then, I imported them into Photoshop Elements Organizer, chose my favorite one, and sent it over to the Photoshop Elements Editor to get to work.

Tintype Photoshop tutorial

Step 2 - Crop the photo

Tintype Photoshop tutorial

We need to put more focus on the portrait by eliminating some headroom here. Check out the crop suggestions at the bottom of your tool bar. It makes for speedy cropping! 

Step 3 - Make it black and white

Once you've cropped your photo, it's time to turn it into a black and white picture. You can do so by selecting Enhance > Convert to Black and White.

Tintype Photoshop tutorial

Tintype Photoshop tutorial

When you get to the Black and White screen select Infrared Effect. The infrared effect mimics the infrared look most tintypes have. Most of the time, this will be enough of a preset to get the effect I want. You can definitely move the faders if you want something more dramatic. If you do want to make some changes I recommend you do some image searches on old tintype photos for examples and inspiration. 

Step 4 - Add an antique film texture

Once you've set the color you like, click OK and open up your web browser. Now, we have to look for some really great old film textures. I found some fantastic ones on Lostandtaken.com it's a great web resource for high-quality textures. Download the set here.

Tintype Photoshop tutorial

Pick your favorite one and open it in Photoshop Elements 13.

Once you've opened the film texture, click over to the tab containing the photograph and drag the photo layer over onto the tab with the film texture.

tintype photoshop elements 13 tutorial

Next, move the photo layer underneath the texture layer.

You'll need to unlock the texture layer by double-clicking on the background layer in the layers pane and selecting OK on the pop-window, then you can move your layers around.

tintype photoshop elements 13 tutorial

 

Now for the fun stuff! There are two colors in this film texture image, the white and the black. For this step, we want to use the black part of the texture and place it on top of our photograph of George. To do that we need to hide the white portions of the photo. We will do so by selecting only the white portions of the photo and placing a mask over them. 

First, click your Quick Selection tool and select the Magic Wand on the toolbar. Notice your Tolerance fader setting and Contiguous is unchecked. These settings will focus on ALL the white in the selected layer.

tintype photoshop elements 13 tutorial

Once you've set up your wand, click on the whitest portion of your texture. It will light up with dotted lines (marching ants).

tintype photoshop elements 13 tutorial

Once you've done that, go to Layer > Layer Mask > Hide Selection. This will hide (you can bring it back later if you need to) the white portion of your texture.

tintype photoshop elements 13 tutorial

The effect should look something like this.

tintype photoshop elements 13 tutorial

Step 5 - Blend the layers

It looks like the mask did a pretty good job of removing what we needed to remove. Next, we need to blend this texture into the photo. Right now, it looks like the texture is just sitting on top of the photo. To fix this, select the texture layer and change the layer blending drop down menu above your layer from Normal to Hard Light. This will cause the texture to blend onto your photograph. It almost looks like the film grain was burned into the photo and became one with each other.

tintype photoshop elements 13 tutorial

 

Step 6 - Add a lens blur effect

Next, we need to add lots of blur to the photo of George. In my research, it looks like the old cameras had a lot of blur and distortion in the photos, so we'll recreate that too! Do this by duplicating the photograph and placing it above the original photo. Then, click Filter > Blur > Lens Blur. 

tintype photoshop elements 13 tutorial

 

On this screen, I played with the faders until I reached a blur that didn't look unrecognizable, but rather just out of focus, like I did a bad job shooting the photograph. Once you've done that, click OK.

tintype photoshop elements 13 tutorial

Step 7 - Bring back some focus

Your photo should now look like a dirty piece of blurry glass is in font of your subject. In order to fix that, we need to bring back some focus on portions of George's face. The best way to do this is to create another mask that hides all of the blur and you can paint it back in only on the spots you need. Do this by selecting the blurry photograph and then Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All. Once you've done that it will appear as if you've made all the blurry photo disappear.

tintype photoshop elements 13 tutorial

Now we need to brush back in some blurry portions of the photo. Do this by selecting the black square next to your blurry photo layer (See above), then select a white paint brush. Set your brush to be very large and very soft.

Do this by selecting the blurry photograph and then Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All. Once you've done that it will appear as if you've made all the blurry photo disappear.

Once your brush is ready, you're ready to paint areas that you want to be blurry. The white brush tells your mask layer where to reveal the blurry photo. Whereas a black brush will tell it what to hide. So, remember that if you paint too much blur and you need to back up your mistake, just switch brush colors!

I brushed in blur around the corners and edges of the photo as well as portions of his head, neck and shoulder. 

Notice my blur layer on the right side of the photograph. The white spots indicate where my blur is revealed.

tintype photoshop elements tutorial

 

tintype photoshop elements tutorial

 

Here's a close-up detail of my blur technique. Notice how much more realistic the blur seems than when the entire thing was blurry? Keep playing with brushing on (or off) your blurred photo layer until it looks the way you want it.

Step 8 - Finishing touches

Now, once you get to this part of the photo, you could definitely say that it's finished. However, I felt like it was missing a more convincing grunge texture. To make it look like it was a real, once-printed photo, we need to bring back some of the white texture we removed earlier so it looks like it was printed on some old paper.

Do this by duplicating your film layer and clicking on the layer mask pane of that layer.

Tintype Photoshop Elements 13 Tutorial

Tintype Photoshop Elements 13 Tutorial

When the mask layer is selected we will invert the mask to reveal the white parts of the photo and hide the black parts. Do this quickly with the keyboard shortcut Command+I on a mac or Ctrl+I on Windows.

When you do that, it will look like this:

Tintype Photoshop Elements 13 Tutorial

Well dang, the white is covering his face! Not to worry, that's why we do masks! With the mask window selected on your lighter texture layer, use a black brush and brush out any white that is covering undesired areas. I removed most of the white from his face with this technique.

Tintype Photoshop Elements 13 Tutorial

If everything looks the way you want it then you're finished! Time to get the photo printed and put it in an antique frame!

For you pros out there, if you wanted to keep going, you could definitely add some more textures on top, apply some noise filters or bring back some of the original color photograph.

Here's a couple of detail shots of the finished photo:

Tintype Photoshop Elements 13 Tutorial

Tintype Photoshop Elements 13 Tutorial

Final tintype photo - edited 

Thanks for following along! If you made it this far, don't miss our first tutorial in this series, How to Make A DIY Block-Printed Photo

 

 

This post was sponsored by Adobe Photoshop Elements. Thanks for supporting the brands that support ManMade!

Weekend Recipe: Homemade New York Steak Poutine

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Steak PoutineLooking for something to make this Friday (or Tuesday) night special? If you haven't experienced the delectable goodness that is steak poutine, stop everything and make it happen. This rich appetizer is the perfect finger food to get the party started.   I first tried steak poutine at an upscale restaurant in Salt Lake City. With a bottle of wine and great company, the poutine signaled the start of a great meal to come. This rich and filling appetizer is made with fries topped with rare steak, cheese curd, and a creamy gravy that seamlessly brought it all together.

When I saw this recipe, I immediately threw it onto the "must make" list for the next time we have friends over around the bonfire. While it can be a bit of work to get everything put together, I promise it's worth the time. The recipe is very thorough and there are even a few related versions to look at as well. Take a look at the recipe and then find an excuse to make this exceptional appetizer.

 


How to: Make Your Own [Working] Apple II Watch

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Faithfully imagined as an anarchistic time piece that never was, Aleator777 of Instructables.com walks you through his design process in creating a working Apple Watch of his own with basic functions that resembled the classic Apple II. Just a little 3D printing and a computer chip...   This instructables guide shows you  each of his hardware and software decisions as well as how to replicate the body's 3D-printed frame.

Check out the incredible how-to here.

As an aside, I was never that impressed by the actual Apple Watch until I read this New Yorker profile of Jony Ive and his process of bringing it to fruition. 

 

The Every Man's Guide to Jazz

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created at: 04/14/2015

Part of being a good man is about continually expanding your horizons and having a sense of the things you like and the things you don't. That's why we're kicking off a new Everyman's Guide to some of the things about which we think every man ought to have a knowledge and opinion. And we're starting out with the great American genre of Jazz.   

Jazz is quintessentially Stateside. It began in the melting pot of New Orleans as musicians started exploring the cross-pollination of American and European classical music with West African music and slave folk songs. Jazz quickly spread through America (and the world) as the 20th century progressed, expanding into new genres and sub-genres as it went. Jazz exists within its own musical structure but bursts with passion, commitment, and improvisation. If you've ever seen a soloist "fighting for it," "chasing it," giving it their all as they wrestle to find and express that thing in life that we're all craving, you'll know what I mean.

 

We listen to great jazz musicians the way we watch our favorite heroes: we witness a single individual – or, even more incredibly, team of individuals together – with nothing more than an instrument and an idea of something to express, simply making it up as they go. 

But as with any new art form or genre, it can be daunting to try and dip your toes in. If you're like me, I always want to start with the greats, the standards, and then go for the deep cuts from there. That's why we've started this list of what we feel are the most important jazz albums for those of you who are looking to start exploring one of the 20th century's seminal art forms. 

 created at: 04/14/2015

Kind of Blue - Miles Davis

All roads lead to Miles Davis' game changing 1959 album, "Kind of Blue." Considered by most to be the greatest jazz album of all time, the band features such legends as John Coltrane, Bill EVeans, Cannonball Adderley, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb. The album exemplifies modal jazz (in this case a series of modal sketches with set scales defining the parameters of the musicians' improvisation) as a departure from Davis' previous work in Hard Bop. I'll never forget the first time I sat in a car with a pretty woman and heard the piercing purity of the trumpet in the alternate take of "Flamenco Sketches" (which as it turns out was the first take of the song and the only track to be completed on the first take). The album is a great starting place for beginners looking to explore jazz in greater depth as the music in incredibly melodic without sacrificing artistic integrity or experimentation. Kind of Blue captures something of the ineffable, the impossible to describe lightning-in-a-bottle that's at once masterfully tactile and soothingly thought-provoking – an elegiac ode to a forgotten place you've never been to but always known. 

 created at: 04/14/2015

Time Out – Dave Brubeck Quartet

Next up is Dave Brubeck's swinging hit, "Time Out." Think Mad Men, think sophistication, and you're halfway there. The album was the soundtrack for the New York City beat generation and the hip, artsy parties of the 60's. In fact I'd bet most have people have heard "Time Out" in films and other works without even knowing it. The inspiration for the record came while Brubeck was abroad on a tour sponsored by the US State Department and came across a vagrant troupe of Turkish street musicians jamming on a traditional folk song in a time signature that was obscure for Western music - 9/8. Trying to sum up the intricacies of the counterpoint between the time signatures for the piano and sax vs. the drum is pointless; the quartet slides between beats and melodies in a way that was so innovative in 1959 that it was generally panned by critics before going on become one of the best known and highest selling jazz albums out there. 

 created at: 04/14/2015

Blue Train – John Coltrane

Choosing between legendary saxophonist and composer John Coltrane's two most beloved albums "Blue Train" and "A Love Supreme" is a bit of a Sophie's Choice, but ultimately I had to land on "Blue Train." Blue Train was Coltrane's first album as leader and marks not only his debut from a middling musician to one of the all-time greats but also displays the beginning of his use of what later became known as Coltrane ChangesAdditionally Coltrane himself declared "Blue Train" to be his favorite album of his. Coltrane musical influence can be seen as a through-line carried by other jazz artists even up to later hip-hop innovators like A Tribe Called Quest and Tupac, and it all stems back to here. 

 created at: 04/14/2015

The Shape of Jazz to Come– Ornette Coleman

The name says it all. When this album hit in 1959, it broke through the jazz-thinking of its time by establishing free jazz and laying the groundwork for later avant-garde jazz. Throwing chord structures to the wind, Coleman's quartet begins each song with a short thematic statement followed by some free-running improvisation before circling back to a repetition of the main theme. The opening track, "Lonely Woman" was inspired by a photograph Coleman came across while on his lunch break working in a department store of a woman who seemingly had it all yet whose face betrayed sadness just under the surface. Fred Kaplan wrote of the song:

'Lonely Woman' begins with Haden playing a slow bass dirge. Higgins follows with a fast drum riff (a pairing of slow bass and fast drums was unusual enough). Then Coleman and Cherry, in unison, blow a sorrowful melody, both of them bending notes, wailing, so naked with emotion that it still raises shivers a half century later.

 created at: 04/14/2015

Ah Um– Charles Mingus 

Known as "The Angry Man of Jazz" for his fearsome dedication to the music and his refusal to compromise for his art, Charles Mingus was the godfather of the upright double bass and a masterful composer. Mingus' career was spent narrowed in on collective improvisation with his band members, often writing to their strengths in such a way that he is considered the heir to Duke Ellington. "Mingus Ah Um" unites all of his influences in one spectacular album: the driving jubilation of Hard Bop, the rambunction and ruckus of Gospel, and some tasteful sprinkles of Third Stream, free jazz, and classical music that gets down deep in your bones. The opening track "Better Git It In Your Soul" (a personal favorite of mine) draws on the old-timey gospel music and preaching of his childhood and is a swinging good time like you've never felt before. "Self-Portrait in Three Colors" was written to accompany John Cassavetes' classic directorial debut, Shadows, but ultimately wasn't included for budgetary reasons. "Fables of Fabus" is a track named after infamous governor of Arkansas who vehemently opposed segregation in Little Rock, forcing President Eisenhower to send in the National Guard, and is a powerful example of a musician using his art for a political statement. 

 

Keep in mind that these are all just jumping off points. If you're jonesing to branch out and explore some of the deep cuts of the jazz world, check out our 25 Essential Jazz Recordings Every Man Should Know.

What jazz album were you listening to when you finally "got it"? Post your thoughts in the comments below.

How To: Give An Old Chair New Life

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created at: 04/15/2015

I finally took the time to repair an old chair that was described as "the most uncomfortable chair I've ever sat in," more than once. Here's what I did to bring new life to my old chair.   My wife bought a chair with a problem a few years ago. One of the metal springs was broken so she brought it home for me to fix. After a few days in the shop, impatience got the best of here and into the house it came with a sagging seat and noticeable lean to the right. After a few months, the second spring broke, and the seat began to sink into the middle which left a very uncomfortable chair in the corner of our living room for quite some time. During our the last few dinner parties the chair was brought out and fast became known as the very worst place to sit in our house, so this weekend I finally took the time to repair the chair.

Supplies

Materials:

  • Staple Gun and staples (T-50)
  • 2" Nylon Straps (12')
  • 1 yard fabric
  • Scissors
  • Ruler/Tape Measure

Stripping the Chair

1. Strip off the old material and springs - This was the easiest part of the job, since all the material was slightly shredded and already hanging down.

 

Strapping

2. Measure out the new strapping - My seat was an easy 24" x 24" so I cut the strips about 2" longer to give room for staples. I used about 12' of strapping total, in 6 equal strips.

Staples

3. Staple on the strapping - I stapled on the straps in a grid pattern with a weave to give it a bit more overall strength. On the front of the chair I had to staple to the inside because the fabric covered the outside of the board. For this area I added a strip of maple wood with screws to sandwich in the straps for strength. As I stretched them tight, I left a little bit of play so that the seat would have some give for the over-sized derrieres out there.

Finished Strapping

4. Test it out - With all the straps in place, I took some time to really test out the strength of the seat. With quite a bit of hopping, and a few small children jumping on it, the straps held up and supported the abuse.

Finished Bottom

5. Button it all up - While this is as much for looks as use, I stretched a thin piece of fabric back over the bottom to close it all up.

Finished Chair

With the chair back to it's supportive design, it is no longer known as the most uncomfortable seat in the house. This woven seat design can be added as additional support to a sagging couch or bar stool to give extra life to the furniture the gives us so much rest.

So, you don't have to embrace a full-on reupholstery job to turn an existing piece into something functional again. 

Are you dabbling into any new repair projects? We'd love to hear all about the latest foray into the world of furniture. Leave a comment and let us know what you've been up to!

 

A Complete Toolbox Set Hand Crafted Entirely from Paper

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A stylished-yet-realistic set of tools, made by hand from paper? What's not to love?   

Junk Culture reports,

Design Studio Reverbere, recently created this highly detailed papercraft toolbox set that comes complete with screwdriver, hammer, wrench, nails and power drill. The project appropriately titled "Paper Toolbox", merges digital design, paper sculpture and illustration to bring a fresh new approach to contemporary craft. Via their website, 'The studio invites you to dive into an inspired world of childhood, where playfulness is required.' 

My favorites? The block plane, files, and, especially, the hex wrenches.

Check more images and details at Junk Culture: Realistic Toolbox Set Crafted Entirely out of Paper by Design Studio Reverbere 

 

15 Words To Deepen Your Vocabulary

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created at: 04/15/2015

Words have the power to move people, to motivate and inspire beyond the daily drag of life. I've been journaling life a bit more lately and I find myself loving the dim corners of the English language. Here are few of my favorite words.  

1. Petrichor - n. A pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.

2. Perambulate - v. To walk through a place, especially for pleasure and in a leisurely way.

3. Repletion - n. the experince of being very full or sated by food.

4. Apogee - n. The point in the orbit of the moon at which it is furthest from the earth.

5. Sophrosyne - n. The quality of wise moderation.

9. Numinous - adj. Having a strong religious or spiritual quality.

7. Meliorism - n. The belief that the world can be made better by our efforts.

8. Wanderlust - n. A strong desire to travel.Words

9. Sonorous - adj. Capable of producing a deep or ringing sound like a bell's toll.

10. Nefarious - adj. Impious or criminal.

11. Limerence - n. Being infatuated or obsessed with another person.

12. Esoteric - adj. related to information understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.

13. Sonder - n. The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

14. Felicity - n. Intense happiness.

15. Sillage - n. The way that a scent lingers in the air after they have gone.

Books

Most of these definitions were taken from the Oxford English Dictionary with slight embellishments for my own use. That's the beauty of writing, language can come alive when put into context with life. I would love to hear some of your favorite forgotten shards of our language, feel free to pass them along so we all can live a bit deeper through our words. Now go out and make this world a more expressive place.

 

April Showers Don't Have To Mean Soggy Shirts: Your Guide to the Ultimate Spring Jacket

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Wet JacketEven as spring starts to bloom, there's still a bit of rain left in the sky. Grab a jacket that can hold up to the weather without letting you down. Here are a few things to look for in your spring shell.   One of my favorite smells is the distintive scent after a rain. It's known as Petrichor and it's amazing. I have been places where that smell is overwhelming and memorable, but missed it thanks to a soaked shirt and soggy spirit. After braving a particularly fierce spring thunderstorm a few years back and coming out fully saturated I vowed to get a jacket that would hold up to the elements without slowing me down. After some research, here are the options when looking for a good shell that's easy to pack and holds up well to the world at it's worst:

 

Light Materials

1. Go for lightweight

It's no good for you if the jacket is fully waterproof but too bulky to take along on the adventure. Opt for a waterproof breathable coating with taped seams which will keep the weight down and make it small enough to take wherever the day may go. The most common coating is DWR, and it's durable enough to stay waterproof for plenty of adventures. The coating gets broken down by washing it, so try to keep it clean and never ever toss it in the dryer.Taped Seams

2. Quality goes a long way

When grabbing something that will hold up against that spring burst, I've never regretted a bit more quality (price). Brands like Patagonia, REI, The North Face or Arc'Teryx ($$) make excellent jackets that will be around for years and look great along the way.Layers

3. Learn to layer

Light jackets are just that. Simple shells that fend off the elements but don't provide much in the way of insulation. Plan ahead and wear some nice layers that can be used to hold in warmth during the squall.

4. Take care of your gear

Just like only having to brush the teeth you want to keep, take care of your gear and it will treat you right for years to come. Always dry it out before storing, hand wash, and use as little soap as necessary. Re-seal seams every spring, and keep it out of the sun whenever possible.

With a bit of planning, you'll be facing the next storm like a champ, and enjoying the sweet smell of petrichor high and dry.

The 25 Essential Jazz Records Every Man Should Know

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created at: 04/16/2015

You've built the bookshelf, covered it with great books, but it needs a little something more. Some classic records perhaps? Why not treat yourself to this essential guide to the greatest collection of jazz albums in the history of recorded time – bar none?

Ok that claim may be a little strong, but for those of you who have never ventured into the exquisite world of Jazz (or for those needing affirmation on their collection) we at ManMade have put together this list of the all-time greats, plus a guide on why and how to enjoy them. Buckle up.

 

THE BASICS:

These are the ones you simply cannot miss. These are the Star Wars and Goodfellas and Bravehearts. Start here and see what strikes your fancy.

 

1. Kind of Blue – Miles Davis

The most influential jazz album there is. Period. 

2. Time Out – Dave Brubeck Quartet

The soundtrack of New York City's bachelor pads in the 60's.

3. Blue Train – John Coltrane

Coltrane's first album as band leader and the album that first demonstrated Coltrane Changes

4. Mingus Ah Um – Charles Mingus 

The coalescence of Mingus' influences: driving Hard Bop and old-timey Gospel, plus a little Third Stream, Free Jazz, and classical music.

5. The Shape of Jazz to Come – Ornette Coleman

The birth of Free Jazz and the groundwork for Avant-Garde Jazz.

6. The Complete Savoy and Dial Sessions – Charlie Parker

No list of jazz albums would be complete without the word from Bird. Get your Bebop fix here.

7. The Complete Hot 5 and Hot 7 Recordings – Louis Armstrong

 The first true standard for jazz soloists.

 

NEXT STEPS:

You've dabbled about now, you have a good sense of the groundwork, and you're ready for something a bit meatier. 

8. A Love Supreme – John Coltrane

Nearly a gospel album, Coltrane is the only horn in the quartet and gets all the freedom he needs. As essential as they come.

9. Ellington at Newport – Duke Ellington

At a time when big-bands were dwindling, this concert revitalized Ellington's career and literally changed the course of music in 20th century. 

10. Moanin' – Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers

The essential hard bop album, with traces of gospel and blues.

11. Birth of the Cool – Miles Davis

Literally the birth of Cool Jazz and one of Davis' many and defining rebirths.

12. Somethin' Else – Cannonball Adderley

Adderley brings the Bebop, Art Blakely the Hard-Bop, Sam Jones the bass, Hank Jones the Swing, and Miles Davis the Cool.

13. Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 – Thelonious Monk

Monk is second only to Duke Ellington as most recorded jazz composer, which says something since Ellington composed more than 1,000 songs, while Monk had only about 70.

 

DEEP CUTS

Now that you've developed your taste, here are the good ol' deep cuts for those who are ready – plus some lesser known, but highly regarded, game-changing albums. 

14. Saxophone Colossus – Sonny Rollins

Only five soulful songs and every one became a hit. Don't miss it. 

15. Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown – Sarah Vaughan

 All Music calls it "one of the most important jazz-meets-vocal sessions ever recorded."

16. Concert By The Sea– Erroll Garner

 A janky recording of one of the all time great pianists who couldn't read a lick of music.

17. Out To Lunch – Eric Dolphy

The high point in 60's avant-garde jazz.

18. The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery – Wes Montgomery

Trademark thumb-picking and octaves-employed, this record established Montgomery as "the most formidable modern guitarist of the era."

19. The Blues and Abstract Truth – Oliver Nelson

This post-bop classic explores the structure of the blues with a killer lineup and great subtlety a la Kind of Blue.

 

THE FAR OUT STUFF (MIXED GENRES AND GREAT HITS)

Kopi Luwak is to coffee, what these albums are to jazz.

20. Head Hunters – Herbie Hancock

The defining moment for Jazz Funk and the one of the best-selling jazz fusion albums of all time. 

21. Bitches Brew– Miles Davis

An older Davis rejects typical jazz rhythms and experiments with electric instruments and freer, rock-inspired style.

22. Speak No Evil – Wayne Shorter

Describing the album, Shorter said, "I was thinking of misty landscapes with wild flowers and strange, dimly-seen shapes — the kind of place where folklore and legends are born. And then I was thinking of things like witch burning too."

 

BONUS: DINNER PARTY SOUNDTRACKS

Disclaimer: All of these are truly great albums and should be given a properly focused listen... that said, they'll be a perfect soundtrack for your next dinner party.

23. Go!– Dexter Gordon 

You'll feel the nightclub surround you in all the best ways.

24. Getz/Gilberto – Stan Getz & João Gilberto

Lilting, intimate, and relaxing, it spawned a bossa nova craze and won the 1965 Grammy for Best Album.

25. Clifford Brown and Max Roach - Clifford Brown and Max Roach

The New York Times calls it, "Perhaps the definitive bop group until Mr. Brown's fatal automobile accident in 1956"

26. Sugar in My Bowl: The Best of Nina Simone – Nina Simone

Simone's best from a versatile five year period.  Yes, that's 26. We went for it!

 

If you're looking for some more in-depth jazz reading check out The Every Man's Guide to: Jazz


How to: Create Your Own Easy Homemade Bacon

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created at: 04/17/2015

With all of its magical texture and immensely satisfying combo of flavors, it's easy to think that bacon is made of nothing but little fairy tickles and stuff on the other side of rainbows. But the ingredients list is amazing simple, and the technique pretty basic.

All of which means, of course, that you can make it at home.     Bacon, at its core, its nothing more than pork belly, salt, sugar, smoke, and time, and perhaps a few other seasonings.

Sean Walberg walks you through the process of curing and smoking your own at home. If you've a fridge and a grill (or even an oven), you can make bacon.

And you should.

Get the full how-to at Sean's Instructable: Easy Home Made Bacon 

A Man's Guide to Everyday Etiquette (It's Free)

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created at: 04/17/2015

We're not ones to harp on the supposed decline of social masculinity. Manhood exists as long as there are men around to claim it. But we do still have social expectations of MEN as opposed to GUYS, many of which have fallen to the wayside of tradition.    

If you've ever found yourself wondering how a man is supposed to act in a certain situation (picture Teddy Roosevelt or Don Draper) but haven't had anyone to model it or teach you, fret no longer. Cecil B. Hartley's 1860 classic, The Gentlemen's Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness; Being a Complete Guide For A Gentleman's Conduct In All His Relations Towards Society is now available for free online through Project Gutenberg

His practical guide covers everything from table etiquette, party hosting, and letter writing, to style tips, traveling comportment, and manly exercises. Not to mention it's an enjoyable walk through masculine history in the West. 

How to: Take Better Hiking and Camping Photos with Your Smartphone

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You know the experience. You trek off to some great view, or deep lush forest, or vast scenic view, grab your phone and say, "I just have to get a picture of this." You snap a shot or two, and look at the screen, and it looks absolutely nothing like where you're standing.

Yep, us too.       

 

But you don't always need to carry a tripod and full DSLR and multiple lenses to get great adventure photos. Your smartphone will work - you just gotta keep a few things in mind, and take advantage of all it's features.

Backpacker magazine shares some great times from adventure and sports photographers Matt & Agnes Hage, who offer tips about seeking light, exposure and composition, and a few in-phone editing techniques to make things look amazing. 

Check out the slideshow and tips at Backpacker.com: How to Take Better Smartphone Pictures

How to: A Complete Guide to Making Your Own Bacon from Scratch

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created at: 04/17/2015

With all of its magical texture and immensely satisfying combo of flavors, it's easy to think that bacon is made of nothing but little fairy tickles and stuff on the other side of rainbows. But the ingredients list is amazing simple, and the technique pretty basic.

All of which means, of course, that you can make it at home.     Bacon, at its core, its nothing more than pork belly, salt, sugar, smoke, and time, and perhaps a few other seasonings.

Sean Walberg walks you through the process of curing and smoking your own at home. If you've a fridge and a grill (or even an oven), you can make bacon.

And you should.

Get the full how-to at Sean's Instructable: Easy Home Made Bacon 

You Don't Have To Give Up Style To Have A Smart Watch

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LG UrbaneIt's still possible to be a man and have a Smart Watch. Here are 3 ways to embrace your inner geek while staying true to your dapper style.  

While I'm not keen on having one more piece of tech to keep charged up, the trend towards a smart watch has been something I have kept and eye on. To be able to stash my smartphone and still have access to reminders and texts seems like a good thing. But one of the problems I've found with most smart watches (and bands) is that they just feel like the modern version of the wrist calculator with the polished plastic and bright lights. But thankfully a few options are surfacing that recognize style matters.  Here are three dapper versions that are welcome on my wrist anytime.

Smart watch band

1. Montblanc Time Walker Leather E-Strap $TBA (June 2015)

This low profile strap allows the use of any watch for a seamless transition without losing that polished sapphire-glass timepiece. The interface is promised to be simple, elegant, and low profile; but helpful enough for daily use.LG Urbane

2. LG Urbane $TBA (Available Summer 2015)

This simple watch features a clean and simple touchscreen with voice activation via "Ok Google". With plenty of different face styles to choose from, it's easy to match to the outfit of the day. LG features other more rugged versions that offer the same functionality in a durable rubber casing for the more adventurous (or accident prone) among us.

Pebble Watch

3. Pebble Steel $199

While the screen quality and detail leave something to be desired, the nice quality metal band and long battery life make this fully interactive screen pretty attractive. Pebble was one of the first smart watches to market so the product is well tested and works without kinks.

So most of us will still have a few casual and dress watches that stick around, within a few years just about everyone will have something like these charging next to their tablet, phone, laptop, and glasses. So go ahead and embrace the trend, but you might as well do it in style.

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